508 is a show about Worcester. This week's panel includes Brendan Melican, Cha-Cha Connor, and Bruce Russell.

Note: About halfway through this episode, my voice becomes de-synched from the rest of the conversation. I cut out the most unlistenable parts, including a funny rant from Bruce about how Worcester development projects are all misguided. Hope what remains isn't too confusing.

Bruce talks about being photographed for Google Street View.

If you go to Kelley Square, you can see Gary Rosen. Those who worry about the privacy implications of Street View should note that the City Council really really wants to implement widespread video surveillance in the city, something which would probably be ineffective (1, 2) and open to abuse.

It snowed. Also, the Stone Soup community resource center had a great one-year-anniversary party.

When Federal Square is renovated, the plan is to remove the benches there, probably to discourage people from spending time in the area, as many of the people who spend time there now are "undesirable." Cha-Cha has been collecting names of people who'd like to see some sort of benches remain. At least one person isn't happy with the rhetoric of the pro-bench people.

If you'd like there to be semi-public boxes in Worcester for disposing of dirty needles, you should talk to your City Councilors; the opposition to these boxes is very real. The plan is called Operation Yellow Box. City Manager O'Brien: "I am confident that Operation Yellow Box will lead to increased community protection, education, and awareness surrounding the safe disposal of needles and syringes."

Next Friday is The Longest Night, a memorial event for those who've died while homeless.

We didn't get to talk about the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Maybe next week.

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